Apparatus and method for detecting and reacting to the presence of a fluid

ABSTRACT

A fluid detection and reaction apparatus that physically responds to fluid contact. An open-ended chamber with a hinged cover holds a compressed springy material. The cover/lid is subjected to pressure by the compressed springy material to open the chamber end. A latch is formed between the chamber cover and the rim of the chamber end to generate a holding force that keeps the cover in place. The latch is formed by a water-reactive material that is adapted to will fail or sever under stress when wet. When water contacts the water-reactive material, the material tears, allowing the cover to open the chamber and release the springy material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to fluid presence detection andalerting for entertainment, and more particularly, to a system andmethod for a toy that senses and/or responds to a water for amusement.

BACKGROUND

For many decades, children and adults have found amusement in throwingwater at each other. Similarly, children and adults enjoy playing thegame of tag. One of the primary issues and frustrations with any taggame is discerning whether or not a person has been tagged; tagdetection and indication is a problem for tag games/entertainment.

When playing with thrown water, batteries and electronic components areless desirable due to the sealing requirement, replacement, costs, andpotential health issues. A non-electronic water tagsensing/indicator/response is desirable.

Safe play is also important; thus, a tag is desired to be soft, lightweight, non-toxic, smooth, wearable, and generally non-interfering withrunning or other actions that a player may take. Players in such highaction games often bang into things and even fall; thus, thetag/indicator/response should be tolerant of diverse physical impactswithout causing injury or interfering with other player functions.

When playing tag or participating in entertainment events, physicallyactive indicators and responses are desirable to enhance performance andentertainment. Visually noticeable tags that indicate with explosiveactions can be observed at longer distances and by more players. It isdesirable that players are unmistakably tagged.

If the water tag detector/indicator/response is too cumbersome, playerswill avoid its use. The water tag detector/indicator/response should becompact and non-obtrusive such that players are not impacted by thepresence of the tag. Similarly, if the water detector/indicator/responseis utilized in physically interactive displays or entertainmentfeatures, then it is desirable that the unactivated apparatus has aminimal appearance in the scene.

Water tag should be easy for the players to use. Ideally, thedetector/indicator/response system should be easy and rapid to reset.

Players desire their entertainment to be low cost; thus, the playutility is higher if the tag is simple and less complicated, as well asnon-electronic.

If the water is thrown by water balloons, then, when the water balloonplay ends, many broken balloon pieces are widely dispersed over an area.Even if the balloons are made of a biodegradable material, these piecesstill represent an eyesore or stain to the view, with the possibility ofan ingestion and digestion issue for any animals or pets that mightcross the play region. Clean up can be quite tedious and time consuming.Thus, it is desirable for any consumable tag components to be as smallas possible and as rapidly biodegradable as possible.

Other alternative devices for playing water tag include:

-   -   1) Player worn vest with water collecting chamber and a gauge        (Stream Machine Water Tag Set)    -   2) Water dissolvable badge (Soaker tag) (corn starch cover that        washes away to indicate a hit)    -   3) T-shirts that show wetness

These water tag alternatives possess deficiencies relative to being:

cumbersome, obtrusive to play, requiring specific placement,constraining what to wear and where to place tag, etc.

Therefore, a need exists for an improved amusement apparatus and systemfor detecting, indicating, and/or responding to the presence of water ona person, or responsive entertainment item.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method fordetecting and reacting to sensing/indicator/response fluid presence foramusement. The present invention provides a series of improvements overconventional water detection and reaction sensing/indicator/responsemethods, including: significantly shrinking the apparatus; minimizinginterference to a player's actions; mitigating any potential harm to aplayer; maximizing visibility/observability that water has beendetected; ease-of-play; and enablement of rapid and easy resetting.

In an embodiment, the water sensing/indicator/response also isconfigured to attach to nearly any surface or be placed in any location.This increases the diverse games that can be played with the watersensing/indicator/response, including a combination of water play andtag. The tag can be affixed to clothing, headgear, and even skin (with asticking bandage).

The present invention eliminates the issues with the prior water tagsystems that, can be cumbersome, hard to observe at long distances,uncertain, easily deceived, player interference, or potentially harm aplayer in the event of a collision or fall.

The present invention also allows for single player games, such astossing the water at the tag as a targeting game. The tag can be hiddenfrom sight as well, but will still respond to thrown water's impact onthe tag.

The water tag and its sensing/indicator/response can be utilized inphysically interactive displays or other entertainment scenes to enhanceits entertainment and appearance.

The present invention also provides a relatively safer apparatus duringuse while throwing near others, and/or while carrying (including whenone is running during play and could inadvertently fall.) The systemalso provides for safer water hits at all ranges since an enclosedcontainer (such as a balloon or bag) does not impact the players. Thewater dispensing provides a soft, rain-like shower, covering a largearea. The dispenser floats in air for easy player recovery.

A toy apparatus is disclosed for detecting and reacting to the presenceof a fluid. The apparatus includes a chamber with one open end; a coverthat fits the open end; the cover can be significantly opened, but alsoclosed over the end of the cover; a springy material which is easilycompressed, holds significant spring force without degradation, and isresistant to holding water; a latching mechanism allows the chambercover to fully open but can latch the cover closed to hold the springymaterial in place; the latch detaches when wetted; the latch's tensilestrength is substantially weakened by water; hooks or other attachmentsto the chamber provide for placement of the device.

In one embodiment, the chamber has an integrated attached cover thatflips open. The chamber may have a box shape with a spring-loaded lidthat pops open unless held closed. When hit by water, the latch materialweakens, breaks and then the chamber cover flips open due to itsspring-loaded lid, allowing the springy material to deploy. The deployedspringy material is the primary indicator that water has hit the device.The action of opening the cover is further indication that water has hitthe device. This cover opening action can be utilized to trigger furtherevents as well, such as flipping a switch to generate a sound ifdesired.

In an embodiment, the knobs are covered with, or constructed from, ahydrophobic material to minimize water adherence and lingering. Thehydrophobic surface mitigates the potential for adversely wetting a newpiece of water-reactive material during the process of resetting the toydevice.

In an embodiment, one or both knob can be formed from the water-reactivematerial. These reactive knobs can be fit into slots, holes, or clips ona the toy device.

In an embodiment, the ends of clips can act as the knobs to hold andlatch the water-reactive materials.

In an embodiment, the flexible chamber is filled with springy materialand covered by a semi-rigid cover that compresses and holds the springmaterial inside the chamber; similar knobs protrude from both the coverand an aligned lip of the chamber, such that when the cover is closed,the two knobs are adjacent to one another; a thin, water-reactivematerial is emplaced to hold the two knobs close to one another suchthat the cover is held in its closed position. Upon water striking thewater-reactive material, the material weakens and the spring force overcomes the water-reactive material's tensile strength, causing it tofail; the tensile failure releases the two knobs from one another andallows the cover to be opened by the spring force, popping the springymaterial out past the chamber opening and cover.

The springy material preferably is highly compressible; can becompressed by the fingers of children; does not hold wetness; whenuncompressed, fills a volume that is many times larger than itscompressed volume; and is vibrant, highly noticeable. Further preferenceis that the springy material allows for inserted features such asglitter or even lights.

In an embodiment, springy material is 100% recycled plastic, made into amesh just like those in a body pouf (synthetic loofah). It could be madefrom a plant based loofah, but is more expensive, and less springy.

The toy apparatus preferably includes an attached cover for ease insetting and resetting the devices spring-loaded cover. The attachmentbetween the chamber and cover can be created by constructing them as oneplastic molded piece with a living hinge of plastic. Alternatively, thecover and chamber could be separate pieces that are attached with ahinge or strap.

In an embodiment, a molded chamber with integrated, flip cover isconstructed.

In an embodiment, the flip cover and the chamber rim are latched suchthat the water reactive-material acts as a knob, as it is inserted intoa notch or hole.

The toy apparatus preferably included integrated knobs to form the twoends of a latch, one knob on the cover, and one knob on the rim of theopen end of the chamber. The knobs align when the cover is closed overthe end of the chamber.

In one embodiment, matching molded knobs protrude from both the chambercover, as well as the rim of the open end of the chamber. The alignedknobs form the two pieces to be latched.

This apparatus preferably incorporates a water-reactive material to formthe latch that holds the two knobs together, as a latch, until thewater-reactive material's tensile strength weakens and fails, releasingthe knobs (unlatching).

In a preferred embodiment, the water-reactive material is a wood-based,100% recycled, rapidly biodegrading paper; such paper rapidly loses itstensile strength when significantly wetted. The tensile strength of thewetted biodegradable paper piece, forming the latch, will be overcome bythe spring force of springy material, pushing out on the cover. Thecover will open, releasing the springy material in a burst. The highreleased volume of the springy material will fill a large volume andwave in the air.

The toy device may include attachments so that the device can be easilyand reliably affixed to buttons, hats, beltloops, skin, remote controlvehicles, etc. Since the player or car might be rapidly accelerating andeven bumping into other objects, the attachments may be constructed toensure robust adherence to the player or other targeted items.

In a preferred embodiment, attachments may include Velcro, stickybandages, hang tab hooks, plastic or wire ties, etc. These attachmentsmay be affixed to the chamber in nearly any location. The orientation ofthe attachment on the chamber, and the affixed location on theplayer/car/tag target may impact the efficacy of the water-reactivematerial.

The toy device may be attached to a remote control vehicle to transformthe vehicle into a target. The toy device is capable of stopping thevehicle when it is hit by a fluid, such as water, and the springymaterial deploys. The springy material gets under the vehicles tires andthe vehicle can no longer move under control. Analogously, a remotecontrol aerial vehicle would be significantly impeded by the release ofthe springy material.

In a preferred embodiment, the chamber is attached to a remotelyoperated vehicle to be utilized as a vehicle hit indicator, and vehiclestopper. Such a tag game could be played individually, in a timed mode,or in a battle mode where other players are trying to hit and/or stopthe vehicles of other players.

In a preferred embodiment, the physical action of the release of thespringy material can be utilized to activate a switch to further triggerindications or alerts that are electrical or electronically controlled,such as sounds and lights.

The foregoing and other features of the invention and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent in light of the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments, as illustrated in theaccompanying figures. As will be realized, the invention is capable ofmodifications in various respects, all without departing from theinvention. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to beregarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, the drawings show a formof the invention which is presently preferred. However, it should beunderstood that this invention is not limited to the precisearrangements and instrumentalities shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a toy apparatus during use. FIG. 1Aillustrates the static target prior to being contacted by water. FIG. 1Billustrates the device being contacted by water. FIG. 1C illustrates thedevice's response to water contact, wherein the water-reactive materialweakens and tears, allowing the cover to hinge open. FIG. 1D illustratesthe explosive reaction of the springy material emerging from the chamberunder the hinged cover, to indicate that water has contacted the device.

FIG. 2 illustrates the force balancing between the spring force of thecompacted springy material and the holding force of the latched cover.

FIG. 3 illustrates the utility of the entertainment device as a watercontact indicator in a game of water tag. FIG. 3A illustrates a playerafter the device is activated.

FIG. 4 illustrates the utility of the entertainment device as a watercontact indicator in a game where remote control vehicles are contactedwith water rather than players. Players can battle through throwingwater, driving vehicles and trying to avoid water contact on theirvehicle. FIG. 4A illustrates a vehicle after the device is activated.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment where the chamber has a box shape witha spring-loaded lid. The spring is mounted such that it is applying aspring force urging the lid to open. The holding force of the latchedcover keeps the cover closed until the latch is wetted and severs. FIG.5A illustrates the cover in its open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An example embodiment of fluid presence detection and alerting apparatus1 includes a chamber 2 that is made from substantially fluid-tightflexible material, for example, a flexible, thin polymer material, andhas an open port. A chamber cover 3 is attached to the chamber 2 andcovers the port in the chamber; the cover is preferably flexible,pliable (or has limited rigidity). The cover is configured to open whenreleased or unlatched. A springy material 4 is compressed inside thechamber 2, preferably made from a plastic mesh, such as a pouf, and isheld in place by the cover 3. Knobs 5 on both the cover 3 and the rim ofthe chamber 2 are placed such that they align when the cover 3 is closedto compress the springy material 4. The knobs 5 are preferably smooth,hydrophobic, and easily accessible. A water-reactive material component6 provides the latching to hold the two knobs 5 next to one another, aswell as holding the cover in place; the water-reactive material ispreferably made from a 100% recycled and rapidly biodegradable paper.

The apparatus and method of the present invention for fluid presencedetection and alerting delivers many of the desirable fluid detectingand alerting advantages identified above. Fluid detection is rapid andreliable without any electrical devices or batteries being required.Fluid contact indication is immediate and highly visual with anextremely large indicator volume being deployed and possessing a flowingmotion. Further, the flexible components are preferably soft andconfigured to be safe for players during play and after deployment ofthe large volume indicator. Only a tiny amount of fluid or water isrequired to trigger the indication and reaction. Further the apparatuscan be easily deployed as wearable devices on players and deployabledevices on other systems, including mobile remote control vehicles. Forremote control vehicles the deployed indicator, springy material, actsare a vehicle stopping net that opens under the vehicle's tires andimpedes the motion of the vehicle. Rapid and easy resetting of thedevice's detector is critical to the player's entertainment and isenhanced by the present device. Further, the fluid consistently detectedwhen the device is hit due to the construction of the apparatus. Thesefeatures overcome many of the problems experienced by prior art.

Preferred Embodiments

This disclosure describes several example embodiments for implementingdifferent features, structures, or functions of the fluid presencedetection and alerting for entertainment apparatus and system, includingpreferred embodiments components, arrangements, and configurations.These examples are provided to simplify the present disclosure. However,these preferred embodiments are provided merely as examples and are notintended to limit the scope of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram illustrating an embodiment of a fluidpresence detection and alerting system 1. In FIG. 1A in this embodiment,chamber 2 that is made from substantially fluid-tight flexible material,for example, a flexible, thin polymer material, and has an open port. Achamber cover 3 is attached to the chamber 2 and covers the port in thechamber; the cover is preferably flexible, pliable (or has limitedrigidity); the cover configured to open when released or unlatched. Aspringy material 4 is compressed inside the chamber 2, preferably madefrom a plastic mesh, such as a pouf, and is held in place by the cover3. Knobs 5 on both the cover 3 and the rim of the chamber 2 are placedsuch that they align when the cover 3 is closed to compress the springymaterial 4. The knobs 5 are preferably smooth, hydrophobic, and easilyaccessible. A water-reactive material component 6 provides the latchingto hold the two knobs 5 next to one another, as well as holding thecover in place; the water-reactive material is preferably made from a100% recycled and rapidly biodegradable paper. Of course, it is alsocontemplated that the arrangement of knobs 5 and water-reactive material6 can be quite diverse, including using the water-reactive material as aknob itself, possibly rolled up to form that knob, or latch attachmentpoint.

FIG. 1B 7 illustrates the device being contacted by water 8. In thisembodiment, the water-reactive material can be sized for varying playmodes to allow either an extremely small or large target ofwater-reactive material.

FIG. 1C 9 illustrates the device's response to water contact, whereinthe water-reactive material 10 weakens and tears 11, allowing the cover12 to hinge open.

FIG. 1D 13 illustrates the explosive reaction of the springy material 14emerging from the chamber under the hinged cover, to indicate that waterhas contacted the device.

FIG. 2 illustrates the force balancing 15 between the spring force ofthe compacted springy material 16 and the holding force of the latchedcover 17 being held in place by a latch formed from the knobs 18, linkedby the water-reactive material 19. A dry water-reactive material 19provides sufficient force to overcome the spring force from thecompressed springy material 16 that pushes to open the cover 17. When afluid or water contacts the water-reactive material 19, then thatmaterial weakens, and its tensile strength is overcome by the springforce, and the cover 16 is pushed open to release the springy material16.

FIG. 3 illustrates the utility 20 of the entertainment device as a watercontact indicator in a game of water tag. Player A 21 throw a fluid orwater 22 at player B 23 who is wearing the devices 24. When the fluid orwater contacts either or both devices 24, player B 25 is marked withwater-contact indicators in the form of the deployed springy material 26(FIG. 3A). Player B 25 is safely, rapidly, reliably and clearlyindicated as being hit or tagged by fluid or water.

FIG. 4 illustrates the utility 27 of the entertainment device as a watercontact indicator in a game where remote control vehicles are contactedwith water rather than players. Player A 28 throws fluid or water 29 ata mobile remote control vehicle 30 that is being driven to try to avoidfluid or water contact on their vehicle. The remote control vehicle hasone or more devices 31 attached. When fluid or water contacts either orboth devices 33 on the remote control vehicle 32, the springy material34 is released and deployed, marking the vehicle as being hit with fluidor water. When the vehicle's tires run over the deployed springymaterial 34, the tires no longer thrust the vehicle 32 because thespringy material 34 is attached to the vehicle 32 through the device 33(FIG. 4B). Thus, the remote control vehicle 32 is effectively stopped bythe deployed device 33 when hit by a fluid or water. The vehicle issafely, rapidly, reliably and clearly indicated as being hit or taggedby fluid or water.

While the water-reactive material forms a latch in the illustratedbetween the first and second attachment mounts, it is also contemplatedthat, instead, one of the attachment mounts could be made from thewater-reactive material and the latch could, instead, be made from aplastic material.

FIG. 5 illustrates the modified version of the invention where theopening of the cover on a box-like chamber 35 is controlled by a spring37. The box 35 has a lid or cover 36 that is attached to the chamber ofthe box by the spring 37. The spring 37 is configured to bias the coverinto its open position (FIG. 5A), thus providing the opening force forcausing the cover to open. When the cover is closed and latched (asdiscussed in the prior embodiment), the biasing action of the spring 37(i.e., the potential energy) is held in place by the latch. When thelatch is wetted and severs, the spring 37 urges the cover 36 to open,releasing the materials inside.

The chamber 35 can contain any suitable items, including in addition toor in place of the springy material, confetti, small items (e.g., toys),colored dye, or other visual indicators.

As discussed above, for the purposes of promoting an understanding ofthe principles of the invention, reference has been made to thepreferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific languagehas been used to describe these embodiments. However, no limitation ofthe scope of the invention is intended by this specific language, andthe invention should be construed to encompass all embodiments thatwould normally occur to one of ordinary skill in the art.

1. A toy apparatus for reacting to the presence of fluid, the apparatuscomprising: a chamber having an interior cavity and at least one openend surrounded by a rim; a cover attached to the rim of the chamber at acover mounting location, the cover having a closed position wherein thecover covers the open end for closing off the interior cavity and anopen position wherein the cover does not completely close off the openend; a spring force applied to the cover by a component for urging thecover into its open position, the spring force component being at leastone of (i) a reusable, waterproof spring mounted between the cover andthe chamber and which biases the cover into an open position, or (ii) areusable, waterproof material compressed in the interior cavity of thechamber and held in place by the cover when the cover is in its closedposition, the compressible material configured to decompress so as toproject out of the open end of the chamber when the cover is in its openposition; a first attachment mount located on the rim of the chamberadjacent to the open end, the first attachment mount located at a firstrim location on the rim which is on an opposite side of the open endfrom the cover mounting location and a second attachment mount on thecover at a second location which is on an opposite side of the coverfrom the cover mounting location, the first and second attachment mountsbeing located such that they are close together when the cover is closedover the open end of the chamber; and a latch separate from the springforce component and which is configured to attach the first and secondattachment mounts to one another in a disconnectable manner so as tocounter the spring force and hold the cover closed over the open end ofthe chamber and maintain the cover in its closed position, and whereineither the latch or one of the first and second attachment mounts isremovably replaceable and made from a thin water-reactive materialconfigured to sever or tear when wet and subjected to the spring force.2. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spring force is provided bythe material compressed within the interior cavity and wherein thematerial is a springy material.
 3. The toy apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe latch is made from the thin water-reactive material and isconfigured to attach the first and second attachment mounts to hold thecover in its closed position over the open end of the chamber tomaintain the cover in its closed position, the water-reactive materialadapted to readily sever when wet.
 4. The toy apparatus of claim 1,wherein there is only one open end, and wherein the chamber is tube-likewith a closed end opposite the open end.
 5. The toy apparatus of claim1, wherein the cover is attached to the rim at the cover mountinglocation by a hinge formed from a strap of flexible material.
 6. The toyapparatus of claim 1, wherein the chamber cover fits inside the end ofthe chamber.
 7. The toy apparatus of claim 2, wherein the springymaterial is lightweight plastic mesh that possesses high released volumecompared to its compressed volume.
 8. The toy apparatus of claim 1,wherein the first and second attachment mounts are rounded small hooks.9. The toy apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water-reactive material isthe latch, and the latch is made from paper material.
 10. The toyapparatus of claim 9, wherein the latch has at least one hole sized toslip over at least one of the first and second attachment mounts. 11.The toy apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an external mountingattachment on the chamber to enable it to be affixed to a player orother play devices.
 12. The toy apparatus of claim 11, wherein thechamber is mounted to a remote control vehicle by the externalattachment, and wherein the apparatus is a remote control vehiclestopper adapted to, when hit with water, cause the material containedwithin the interior cavity to be released and go under wheels of theremote control vehicle.
 13. A method of detecting and reacting to thepresence of a fluid as part of a game, the method comprising the stepsof: providing a toy apparatus according to claim 1; receiving fluid onthe toy apparatus; causing the fluid to unlock the cover; and releasingmaterial from inside the chamber, the release of the material providinga visual indication of that water has hit the apparatus.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein the step of causing the fluid to unlock the coverinvolves: causing the fluid to contact the water-reactive material tosever the material, and urging the cover into its open position torelease the material.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the toyapparatus is attached to a player and wherein the step of providingvisual indication of water detection indicates that a player has beenhit or tagged by the fluid contact.
 16. The method of claim 13, whereinthe toy apparatus is attached to a remote control vehicle and whereinthe step of releasing material involves deploying a springy materialunder tires or tracks on the vehicle so as to impede the motion of thevehicle; and wherein the step of providing visual indication of waterdetection involves the vehicle stopping so as to indicate a fluid hit onthe vehicle.
 17. A toy apparatus for reacting to the presence of fluid,the apparatus comprising: a chamber defining an interior and having atleast one open end surrounded by a rim; a cover hingedly attached to therim at a cover mounting location, the cover configured to cover the openend in a closed position; a reusable, waterwroof spring-like flexibleplastic material adapted to be compressed into the chamber and held inplace by the cover in the closed position, the spring-like materialconfigured to decompress so as to project out of the open end of thechamber when the cover is not covering the open end; a first attachmentmount located on the rim of the chamber adjacent to the open end, thefirst attachment mount located at a first rim location on the rim whichis on an opposite side of the open end from the cover mounting location,and a second attachment mount located on the cover at a second locationwhich is on an opposite side of the cover from the cover mountinglocation where the cover hingedly attaches to the rim, the first andsecond attachment mounts being located in close proximity to each otherwhen the cover is in its closed position; and a latch separate from thespring-like flexible plastic material and which is configured to attachthe first and second attachment mounts to one another in adisconnectable manner so as to hold the cover in its closed positionover the open end of the chamber to maintain the springy materialcompressed within the chamber, and wherein either the latch or one ofthe first and second attachment mounts is removably replaceable and madefrom a water-reactive material configured to sever or tear when wet andsubjected to the spring force.
 18. The toy apparatus of claim 17,wherein the latch is made from the water-reactive material and isconfigured to attach the first and second attachment mounts to hold thecover in its closed position over the open end of the chamber tomaintain the springy material compressed within the chamber, thewater-reactive material adapted to readily sever when wet.